Even though Israel didn’t respond to last night’s rocket fired on Israel, today shots were fired at IDF troops carrying out routine security activities near the security fence along the Gaza border.
– IDF jets & tanks destroy 3 Hamas posts in Gaza in retaliation, leaving Defense Minister Liberman saying, “We will respond to every firing to our territory. That is what we did today and that is what we will also do in the future.”

By ANNA AHRONHEIM

The IDF carried out an airstrike and artillery shelling against multiple Hamas targets in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip following gunfire shot toward IDF troops, the army stated on Thursday.

IDF artillery fire (file) – Photo IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

IDF troops carrying out routine security activities near the security fence along the Gaza border had come under fire, and while no injuries were reported, a military tractor sustained light damage.

The incident came after a rocket landed in an open area near the Ashkelon coastline late on Wednesday night. No incoming rocket sirens sounded as the projectile was headed towards open territory, the army stated.

Gaza rocket lands in sand – [Illustrative] Photo: Israel Police Spokesperson’s Unit.

There were no reports or injuries or damage from the rocket, which was reportedly fired from Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip.

Remnants of the rocket were found on Thursday by security forces who had been sweeping the area.

The incident marks the fifth rocket to have been launched at Israel within the last month, including two incidents by the Islamic State Group in Sinai.

On Monday IDF jets strike 5 Hamas terror targets in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for a rocket which had been launched from the Gaza Strip.

Following last week’s strikes, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that  “We are not ready to accept any drizzle of rockets. We will respond to every firing to our territory. That is what we did today and that is what we will also do in the future.”

Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman – Knesset TV screenshot

Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman stated that while Israel has no intention to initiate any military action in Gaza, “we have no intention to continue to absorb drippings (of rockets out of the strip). Hamas must take responsibility and relax.”

Hamas, on their official Twitter account denied responsibility for the rocket and stated that “we place full responsibility for the continuation of this dangerous escalation in Gaza on the Israeli entity, which is targeting the Palestinian resistance and the people of Gaza.”

Both Hamas and splinter Islamic organizations have launched rocket attacks into Israel. There has been no official claim of responsibility for the launching of the projectile, but Israel holds Hamas responsible for all fire coming from the Strip.

View original The Jerusalem Post publication at:
http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Cross-border-exchange-ensues-after-shots-fired-at-IDF-forces-near-Gaza-483016